Prior to his appointment as Director of the Department of Central Services, John Richard held various positions: he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in December 1973 and entered active duty in February 1974. After training in the Field Artillery, he transferred to the Combat Service Support Arms; he has served in positions of increasing responsibility in the United States Army Europe and in the Training and Doctrine Command. He has commanded training and administrative units at the company and battalion level, and he has served in the Eighth Infantry, Third Armored, Second Armored and Fourth Infantry Divisions; most recently, he has served as the Senior Human Resources Officer for the U.S. Army in the Balkans, Deputy Human Resources Officer for the U.S. Army in Europe, and Secretary of the General Staff, U.S. Army Europe; he returned to Oklahoma for his final active duty assignment as the Inspector General for the Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard. COL Richard retired from active Duty on September 30, 2004. He was selected by Governor Henry to serve as Director of the Department of Central Services and the Deputy Cabinet Secretary of Human Resources and Administration on 1 December 2004.

COL John Richard is a native of Lawton, Oklahoma. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma State University in 1973 and his Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of Missouri Kansas City in 1988. COL Richard is the recipient of the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf cluster and the Oklahoma Distinguished Service Medal. Mr. Richard married Ms. Betty Cadenhead of Landshut, Germany on May 27, 1973. They live in Oklahoma City and have four children, Sean, David, Justin and Sarah.